Obstetrics
This aims at detecting and preventing maternal and fetal risks and to treat them as and when they come so that a healthy baby is born to a healthy mother and the entire family as a whole. This care is done either on out- or in-patient basis.
THE BOOKING VISIT
This is the first visit a pregnant woman makes to our hospital for purposes of medical check- up of both the mother and her unborn baby. This starts as soon as the woman gets pregnant or misses her period. At this visit the following will be required;
Demographic data of the mother, done at the record desk.
Health educational talks by our experienced public health nurses. They also give both mothers and their babies their immunizations Preliminary screening by a nurse before the patient sees a doctor.
CONSULTATION SERVICE
This involves seeing a doctor for the following;
The History
Examination
Investigations
Laboratory
Ultrasound (scan)
Cardio-tocograph (CTG)
Medications
Malaria prophylaxis
Haematenics (blood building agents)
Pain killers – as and when necessary
Specific ailments are treated accordingly
Tetanus toxoid at 24 and 28 weeks.
SUBSEQUENT VISITS
The usual visits for low risk mothers is scheduled as
4 weekly till 28 weeks,
Then 2 weekly till 36 weeks, and afterwards
Weekly till delivery.
High risk patients may need to be seen more frequently or admitted.
At any visit routine antenatal assessment is done .
INDICATIONS FOR ADMISSION
Patients with any of the following risk factors are admitted;
Nulliparous (women who have never given birth before) patients over 35 years old, Teen –age pregnancy, Grand multiparity (those who have had three or more deliveries), patients with history of previous complicated pregnancies, Multiple pregnancy, Preterm (labor before 37 completed weeks), vaginal bleeding, hypertension, diabetes, anaemia, big baby, malpresentation or abnormal lie, loosing of liqour, premature contractions, feverish illness, post maturity, all labor cases and miscarriages.
Also danger signs like abdominal pain, persistent vomiting, severe headaches, visual disturbances, swelling of hands, feet and abdomen, require admission.
MODE OF DELIVERY
SPONTANEOUS VAGINAL DELIVERY (SVD)
The patient is allowed to deliver through the vagina. Women who go through this procedure are monitored during labor with a machine called cardio-tocograpgh. With this machine, Sensitive electrodes (monitors) are placed on the abdomen over a conducting jelly that can sense and record both fetal heart rate (FHR) and uterine contractions on a moving strip of paper. The results of the test are continuous and are printed out or appear on a computer screen.
CAESARIAN SECTION AND ITS INDICATIONS
Patients who have unfavorable conditions to allow for safe vaginal delivery are delivered by a surgical procedure called caesarian section. With this procedure, the patient will stay in the hospital for a longer period, usually, 5 to 7 days before she is discharged.
NEONATAL INTENSIVE CARE UNIT (NICU)
The Hospital also has a well equipped NICU facility to take care of premature and asphyxiated babies. This facility is run by a pediatric nurse who examines the babies immediately after delivery. A pediatrician also runs a pediatric clinic on Saturdays from 9 O’clock in the morning to 2 O’clock in the afternoon.
POSTNATAL CARE
After delivery, babies are given vitamin K injection and silver nitrate eye drops are put on the eyes to prevent any possible neonatal eye infections. Before discharge, the patient is examined thoroughly to rule out any problem associated with the puerperium (period after the delivery to the end of six weeks) and the baby is given oral poliomyelitis vaccine and BCG.
Subsequent visits are at 2 and 6 weeks postnatal. At these visits, the clinic is held to ascertain the state and well being of both mother and baby and whether breastfeeding is well established or not. Contraception is further discussed with those who need it and are helped to find their appropriate choices.